Thirty four miners are trapped deep inside a coal mine in central Bosnia that has collapsed.

The mine union leader at the Zenica coal mine, Mehmed Oruc, said two tunnels in the mine collapsed on Thursday evening following a gas explosion triggered by a minor earthquake that had hit the area near the town of Zenica.

Oruc said today the miners are trapped more than 500 metres (1,600 feet) underground, but are alive and have enough air. He added that rescuers are hopeful the miners will be brought out soon.